Radius-rod



J. D. BRIDGERS.

RADIUS ROD,

APPLICATION HLED MAY13. 1919.

Patented Dec. 9, 1919.

A TTORNEYS J OHN DAVIS BRIDGERS, OF FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA.

RADIUS-ROD. 7

Specification of Letters Patent.

r Patented Dec. 9,1919.

Application filed May l3, 1919. Serial No. 296,766.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN D.'BRIDGERS, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Florence, in'the county of Florence and State of SouthCarolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRadius-Rods, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention is an improved radius rod for automobiles.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a radiusrod, so made that the arms of the rod areinter'changeable' so that asingle spare arm carried in the car may be quickly put on in place ofeither arm of the rod which might become bent .or broken when out on theroad.

Another. object is to provide a separable anchor member for connectingthe inner ends of the rod arms to the engine casing, which anchor memberplaced by a spare one if damaged or broken.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved three-piecesectional radius rod which will be exceedingly simple, durable,eflicient in operation and inexpensive to manufacture and maintain.

With these and other objects in view,

which will become apparentas the description proceeds, the inventionresides in the construction, combination of. parts hereinafter andclaimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which likecharacters of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalfigures ofwhich:

Figure 1 represents a plan view of a radius rod. constructed accordingto my invention, the arms being broken away.

Fig. 2 represents an edge elevational view thereof. 7

Fig. 3 represents a chor member.

Fig. 4. represents a plan view of the inner end of one of the arms.looking at it from the inner side thereof.

Fig. 5 represents an edge view of the anchor member.

Fig. 6 represents an edge view of the inner end of the arm.

Fig. 7 represents a fragmentary edge view of the rod, partially insection, and

Fig. 8 represents a view in perspective of the wire used as a nut lock.

The invention while particularly designed for use in connection withFord automay be readily re and arrangement more fully described planview of the "anin the recesses 15 mobiles,

vehicles of other and various makes.

Referring. more particularly to the draw ing, the rod includes an-anchormember '5 and two arms 6. The arms at their ,for-' ward ends areprovided with the ,boltsfor fitting through the front axle in the usualmanner. The anchor serves to connect the rear ends of the arms togetherand to the:

on one side of the plate are perpendicular to the axis of one of therods, while the ribs 011 the opposite face are perpendicular to theaXisof the other rib.

The rods are interchan eable, and are constructed exactly alike. ach rodhas its inner end provided with an offset circular flattened seat 11:having spaced parallel grooves 12 arranged perpendicularly to the axisof the arm and into which the ribs fit when the seat is placed againstthe plate 8 in connecting the arms to the anchor member. .lVhen theradius rod is assembled the arms 6 will be in coplanar relation, theinner offset ends of the arms fitting against opposite sides of theanchor plate.

The flattened ends of the arms are each provided with a central opening13 alining with the 0pening9 in the rod is assembled. The opening ineach rod is counter sunk as at 14 at its outer end, and is provided atdiametrically opposed points with recesses 15.

In order to secure the members of the rod together a. bolt 16 having aconical head 17 provided with wings 18 is passed through the alinedopenings, the wings 18 engaging of one of the arms. A conical nut 19,having a castellated head, is then screwed onto the end of the bolt, thenut being held in place against rotation by means of the nut lock 20.

The latter is placed upon the bolt before the nut is turned thereon, andit includes a split ring 21 which encircles the bolt at the bottom ofthe counter sunk portion of the opening in the arm into which the nut isto be turned. The split ring terminates at the anchor plate when- A; rs

maybe adaptedfor use with motor,

disposedso thatthe ribs one end in an upwardly extending Wire whichrests in one of the recesses so as to be out of the Way of the nut whenthe latter is turned upon the end of the bolt. The nut having beenscrewed in place for tightening the parts together, the end of the Wireex tension is bent down as at 22, across the head of the nut to engagein the notches therein for preventing reverse rotation of the nut. Thusthe nut will be locked in place against displacement. The lock wire isof relatively small diameter, so that it Will take up only a slightamount of room.

The wire is, however, of sufiicient strength to retain the nut againstaccidental displacement.

When the parts arev thus assembled, the interlocking ribs and grooves,will hold the arms and anchor member against displacement relatively toeach other. Thrust on the arms 6 of the rod, will be transmitted to theanchor member partially through the interlocking ribs, but primarilythrough the arcuate shoulders 23 formed at the junction of the shank andplate of the anchor member. Thus the bolt Will be relieved of thrusts,and there Will be no tendency to shear it. The construction is such thatno lost motion between the various members of the rod occurs, so that arigid and strong construction is provided.

By the use of the rod 1 provide, a spare arm and a spare anchor membermay be carried in the car, and should either of the arms become brokenor damaged, or the anchor member be injured, the part may be replacedsimply by removing the damaged member and substituting the new one forit, and this may be done easily and quickly and Without the use of anyspecial tools.

Although I have described the preferred embodiment of my invention, Imay desire to make such changes in the construction, combination andarrangement of parts, as do not depart from the spirit of the'inventionand the scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. A radius rod comprising an anchor member having one endflattened to provide a plate, shoulders formed at the junction of theplate With'the body of the anchor member, a pair of arms arranged incoplanar relation and having their inner ends ofi' set and bearingagainst the opposite faces of the plate and engaging said shoulders,interlocking ribs and grooves between the arms and the plate, a boltpassed through alining openings in the arms and plate, a nut screwedupon said bolt for retaining the parts in assembled position, and meansfor preventing accidental displacement of the nut relatively to thebolt.

2. A radius rod including an anchor member having a plate formedthereon, arms having their inner ends oiiset in opposite directions andengaging against opposite sides of the plate, interlocking ribs andgrooves between the arms and plate, and means detachably connecting thearms and plate together.

3. A radius rod including an anchor member, arms having offset endsengaging against opposite sides of the anchor member, interlocking meansbetween the arms and anchor member preventing angular displacement ofthe arms and anchor member relatively to each other, shoulders formed inthe anchor member for taking up the thrusts from the arms and meansdetachably connecting the arms and anchor member together.

a. A radius rod including an anchor member having a plate portion, armshaving their ends engaging against opposite sides of said plate portion,interengaging ribs on said arms and plate portion, and a bolt passingthrough said arms and said plate portion.

,5. A radius rod consisting of an anchor member, a pair of arms, asingle securing member passing through said anchor member and said armsand detachably connecting them together, and means including thesecuring member preventing angular displacement of the anchor member andarms relatively to each other.

6. A radius rod including an anchor member having a plate portion, armshaving their ends disposed against opposite sides of said plate portion,interengaging locking means on said arm and plate portion, and a singlebolt passing through said arms and plate portion.

JOHN DAVIS BRIDGERS.

IOU

